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Related Experiment Videos

Heart rate variability after prolonged spaceflights.

Dominique Sigaudo-Roussel1, Marc-Antoine Custaud, Alain Maillet

  • 1Laboratoire de Physiologie de l'Environnement (Groupement d'Interêt Public de l'Exercise E2S, EA 645), Faculté de Médecine Lyon Grange-Blanche, Lyon, France.

European Journal of Applied Physiology
|May 7, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Astronauts experiencing fainting after spaceflight show impaired autonomic control. This study identified pre-flight differences in heart rate and blood pressure that predict post-flight orthostatic intolerance in cosmonauts.

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Area of Science:

  • Space Medicine
  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Autonomic Neuroscience

Background:

  • Post-flight orthostatic intolerance is common in astronauts.
  • This condition can lead to syncope (fainting) upon return to Earth.
  • Understanding the underlying physiological mechanisms is crucial for astronaut health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To differentiate cosmonauts experiencing post-flight syncope from those who do not.
  • To investigate autonomic function changes before and after long-duration spaceflight.
  • To identify potential predictors of post-flight orthostatic intolerance.

Main Methods:

  • Ten cosmonauts underwent autonomic function testing (stand test) pre- and post-flight.
  • Beat-by-beat heart rate (HR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were monitored.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity and HR variability were analyzed.

    • Main Results:

    • Reduced spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity was observed in all cosmonauts post-flight.
    • Cosmonauts who later experienced syncope (non-finishers) had lower pre-flight resting SBP.
    • Non-finishers exhibited higher parasympathetic activity and blunted HR response during standing post-flight.

    Conclusions:

    • Spaceflight impairs autonomic control of heart rate and blood pressure.
    • Pre-flight autonomic function, particularly baroreflex sensitivity and parasympathetic activity, may predict post-flight orthostatic intolerance.
    • These findings suggest a potential mechanism for syncope in returning astronauts.